Walking through history

By ackie Bridges / Staff Writer

Published: Monday, September 9, 2013 at 08:16 AM.

Dr. S.S. Royster built this 14-room Colonial Revival house between 1908 and 1910. Designed by Charlotte architect J.M. McMichael, the Royster house is believed to have had the first hot water heating system and first modern bathroom in Shelby. The freestanding classical portico with its giant order Corinthian columns is a notable feature.

Andrews-Royster House

417 S. Washington St.

Built before 1860 by Dr. William P. Andrews, Shelby’s first surgeon, this house was extensively remodeled in the 1920s by Dr. S.S. Royster as a wedding gift for his son, D.W. Royster. Dr. Royster employed Charlotte architect J.M. McMichael who had designed his Colonial Revival house next door and the Royster Building on East Warren Street.

In the early to mid 1900s, South Washington Street was a center of activity as dignitaries visited Webbley, the home of N.C. Gov. O. Max and Fay Webb Gardner, and the homes of other politicians who lived in the neighborhood.

These homes are included in the Shelby Central Historic District. While Webbley is the only property listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the other homes also have architectural and historic significance. Seven of these homes will be featured in a walking tour Sept. 15 sponsored by the Historic Shelby Foundation. Volunteer guides will be available to explain the history and former residents will tell personal stories about living in the homes.

The “Webbley and More” tour will also feature the interior and the grounds of the Gardner home, which has not been open to the public in several years.

“We will have a person in each room with printed information about the house,” Historic Foundation President Ben Hubbard said.

The guides will be able to give details, and keep people moving through the house to avoid bottlenecks, especially in the foyer where framed letters from famous politicians, autographed pictures, articles and other photos are displayed on the walls.

“We want to let people move through at their own pace,” Hubbard said, adding that people will have an opportunity to come back to the foyer to study the artifacts on the wall.

After touring Webbley, guests will be invited to walk down South Washington Street to view the other properties and hear about the history from guides and former residents. Some of the homes were owned by members of what has been called by historians as the “Shelby Dynasty.” These men served in local, state and federal governments. According to information from the National Park Service, the most notable men of Shelby’s political leadership were brothers James and Edwin Yates Webb, O. Max Gardner and Clyde R. Hoey.

“It’s interesting to have these historically significant houses close together and to follow the political history of the residents,” Hubbard said. “The people living in the houses were related and interacting in Raleigh and Washington.”

HOMES ON THE TOUR

Webbley

403 S. Washington St.

O. Max Gardner’s career included service as a state senator, as the state’s youngest lieutenant governor (1916-1920), and later as governor from 1929 to 1933.

Webbley, which was never actually owned by Gardner, was the home of his wife’s parents, Judge James L. Webb and Kansas Love Andrews Webb. The home is named for her father who, along with her uncle, Judge E. Yates Webb, formed the first generation of the renowned Shelby political dynasty.

Besides being the home of two great political families, Webbley comprised the setting for a segment of Thomas Dixon’s The Clansman and for D.W. Griffith’s classic movie “The Birth of a Nation.” In addition, W. J. “Sleepy” Cash, author of the historic work, The Mind of the South, was a frequent visitor at Webbley in the post 1911 period.

Although Gardner spent much of his last 25 years in Washington, he always considered Webbley home, according to information provided by his grandson, O. Max Gardner III. Some of the governor’s fondest memories recalled receptions at Webbley for political dignitaries and other special guests.

Fanning-Washburn House

313 S. Washington St.

Walter Fanning, a local merchant, built this two-story frame Colonial Revival house in 1915. For most of the 20th century, Dr. Washburn, a prominent Shelby physician resided in the house. In 1980, Dr. Frank Hannah renovated the house for his optometrist’s office.

Fulenwider-Ebeltoft House

323 S. Washington St.

This two-story white frame house is one of the few ante-bellum buildings that survive in Shelby. Built in the 1850s by Swiss pioneer, Eli Fulenwider, the house is better known as the Ebeltoft house. T.W. Ebeltoft, who retired from the Baptist ministry and operated a confectionary and bookstore in uptown Shelby, sold the house to Judge James L. Webb. Governor O. Max Gardner moved to this house after marriage to Judge Webb’s daughter, Fay. The Gardners moved from the house with the Webb family to 403 S. Washington St., in 1911.

Royster House

413 S. Washington St.

Dr. S.S. Royster built this 14-room Colonial Revival house between 1908 and 1910. Designed by Charlotte architect J.M. McMichael, the Royster house is believed to have had the first hot water heating system and first modern bathroom in Shelby. The freestanding classical portico with its giant order Corinthian columns is a notable feature.

Andrews-Royster House

417 S. Washington St.

Built before 1860 by Dr. William P. Andrews, Shelby’s first surgeon, this house was extensively remodeled in the 1920s by Dr. S.S. Royster as a wedding gift for his son, D.W. Royster. Dr. Royster employed Charlotte architect J.M. McMichael who had designed his Colonial Revival house next door and the Royster Building on East Warren Street.

Stuart House

421 S. Washington St.

This early 20th century two-and-one-half story house with Queen Anne massing and Colonial Revival details was covered with brick veneer early in the century. The house was built on land that was originally part of the side yard of the McAfee property where author Thomas Dixon was born.

Blackley House

505 S. Washington St.

The Blackley family built this house in 1927 near the site of the LeRoy McAfee house where author Thomas Dixon was born. The McAfee house was moved to the rear of this lot facing DeKalb Street and was later demolished. A barn on the property is built from materials from the McAfee House.

GOOD TO KNOW

Historic Shelby Foundation is a non-profit, volunteer organization that promotes historic preservation as an investment in Shelby, Cleveland County and North Carolina. The organization works to foster appreciation of historic structures; educate about restoration techniques and tax credits available; advocate for historic districts and properties; and connect "at risk" historic properties with new owners who will preserve the historic integrity of the properties. For more information, email infor@historicshelby.org or visit www.historicshelby.org.

Want to go?

“Webbley and More” historic tour

Tour historic Webbley and take a sidewalk tour of the surrounding Shelby Central Historic District from 1 to 4 p.m. Sept. 15. Included is a brochure and a self-guided walking tour with guides posted along the way to explain the historic value of surrounding properties, including those that were part of the “Shelby Dynasty” of the early to mid 1900s. The tour will also include the interior of the Peyton McSwain House (circa 1920) which is owned by the Historic Foundation and available for sale and renovation. The house was moved to its current location at 721 S. Washington St. last year to save it from being demolished. Tickets are $16 with children under 12 free when accompanied by an adult. The tour begins at Don Gibson Theater, 318 S. Washington St., Shelby. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call 704-297-5878.